Man dies after pit latrine collapses in Kakamega County

KAKAMEGA, Kenya, Oct 23- A man died on Friday evening after a pit latrine he was constructing collapsed and caving in.

Another sustained injuries and is receiving treatment at a local hospital.

The area chief Samuel Shilabile said the deceased was part of a five-man crew contracted by the Shikhuyu Primary School administration in Lurambi Kakakmega county to construct two ablution blocks.

The Friday evening incident occurred just a few meters in the glaring vicinity of the school learners who were in class sitting for their exams at the time.

“The deceased was in the company of the injured colleague when the 15 feet deep latrine collapsed and unfortunately nothing could have been done at the time to avert the tragic incident,” the Chief said.

Efforts by his colleagues to rescue the man were futile.

“Just when we were digging it there was a slight tremor and then they soil from both sides started trickling down on us freely. I managed to escape but my colleague was not so lucky, ” a colleague said.

The collapsed latrine is said to have been just a few meters from yet another one which has recently caved-in as a result of poor workmanship.

“The heavy rains in the area also made it very difficult for those men to do their work, the soil was very fragile and ideally they should have used approved equipment to undertake the construction works, ” the Chief said.

The deceased body was taken to the Kakamega Referral Hospital Mortuary.